Joining this forum and have a question...

[Marielena]

Hi everyone! I still can't believe it - but the test is positive! I'm nervous to start telling family, so this is a great place to talk about it!

I'm a longtime occassional lurker, and recently officially joined when I started cloth diapering my 19mo dd. I have gotten a lot of help from the diapering forum and I am so excited to be joining this area!

I was also wondering if any of you are planning to get the flu shot? I'm very leary of vaccines overall, but I also know how dangerous high temperatures can be during pregnancy (especially in the first trimester). We are going to be doing lots of travelling around the holidays and I always seem to get sick on airplanes :( so I really don't know what to do! I guess its just weighing the potential problems from the shot with the possibility of getting the flu and having high temperatures.

Any thoughts?

[DesireeH]

Hello! Congratulations!

Definately no flu shot here. For one, they dont even work. Second, they contain mercury which is not healthy for a mom to be (or anyone for that matter.) I would just wash your hands alot, up your Vit C intake, get plenty of rest, eat well, and have some oscillococcinum on hand. :)

[MamanFrançaise]

I agree with desiree. Just have a lot of antibacterial wipes or hand soap with you and wash your hands constantly. If you were going to get the flu, it would most likely be by touching something.

And I thought getting the flu shot could actually give you the flu?

[Marielena]

Thanks! I was really leaning towards not getting it, but my mom was really pushing me to get it, and I was just getting so nervous about it all :) Its nice to have people on the same side and hear the encouragement!

I don't think the flu shot can actually give you the flu - as long as you get the shot it is an inactivated virus. However, the flumist is a live virus so that would definitely not be recommended for pregnant women. If I would have gotten it, I would want to get the version without mercury (I think my doc has them available) - but its not an issue anymore, I'll just be using the sanitizer every few minutes on the plane!

[DesireeH]

No, you arent supposed to get the flu FROM the flu SHOT but alot of people I know get the flu anyways DESPITE the shot. Plus the reactions can include chills, fever, etc......which would be pretty darn close to having the flu anyways. The flu mist is a live virus though, I would avoid the places that give those too.

Even the mercury "free" vaccine still contains .004/25 mcg which IMO is too much, especially for a mom to be with a developing baby.

I just went on the plane a month ago and we didnt get sick at all.

I did get sick this week but just a cold. LOL

[kemmasmom]

You cannot get the flu shot in your first trimester. And, by the time you are able to get the flu shot, the majority of the flu season will be over with.